Foot traction hitch



Jarl- 29, 1952 J. R. SIERANDT 2,583,895

FOOT TRACTION HITCH Filed NOV. 15, 1948 2 SHEETS-SHEET l 12x/@KM Jan-29, 1952 J. R; slr-:BRANDT FOOT TRACTION HITCH 2 SHEETS--ShEET 2 FiledNov. l5, 1948 Patented Jan. 29, 1952 YUNiran .STATES PATENT OFFICEassaass I voor TRAoTIoN inro'it John n. .siebanda Kansas city, Mo.;@Elizabeth Siebrandt,` executrix of said Join-1R. Siebrandt,

deceased, assigner, by mesme assignmentsh to Siebrandt Inc., KansasCity, Mo, a corporayApplicati'tnumaber 1s, 194s, sesamo. somos misas.(o1. its-'sa This invention relates to improvements in `a removabletraction hitch .for `maintaining ltr-action :on the leg when reductionof a fracture thereof is to be made and while applying a cast.

rllhe .principal object of the Vpresent invention Iis ithe provision ofremovable traction hitch having hinged traction straps adapted toengagefthe `foot before a .plaster 4cast is :applied thereover, and that can,be-easily and quickly removed from the `finished cast withoutdisturbing the alignment of the fractured parts.

.Another object of th'e invention is the provision 'of a removabletraction hitch having a U-shaped `frame adapted to be drawn from theii-nished cast and to remove the traction straps therewith.

Other objects are simplicity and economy of construction, ease andeliciency of .operation and adaptability for use in various orthopedicoperations. I

With these objects in view as well as other objects which will `appearin the `course of the specication, reference will be had to the draw ingwherein.:

Fig. -1 is a side elevational view of 4floot and leg portion having theremovable traction hitch positioned thereon to create a traction while1a )plaster cast, shown in section, is being applied.

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the assemblage shown in Fig. l with the castpartly broken away to more clearly show` the operating parts.

Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the foot and leg with the removableplaster hitch partially polsitioned thereon.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary, enlarged section taken on line IV--IV of Fig.1.

Fig. 5 Vis an enlarged perspective view ofthe frame portion of thehitch, with one of the strap retaining arms opened.

Fig. 6 is a layout view of one of the traction straps, with theassembling wire in place.`

Fig. 7 a sectional view taken on line VII--V'II of Fig. 6.

Fig. 8 is a detached view of the toe guard.

Fig. 9 is an enlarged sectional view takenon line IX--IX of Fig. 4.

Throughout the several views like reference numerals refer to similarparts, 'and the numeral II) designates a frame of general U-shape,prferably made of -metal to present a relatively rigid vstructure havinga base l2 and outwardly projecting, 'substantially parallel arms I4. Theend portions of said arms are adapted to be positioned respectively atopposite sides of the foot I6 and substantially in alignment with theleg I8. Adjacent its free end each of arms I4 is 2 .provided with arigidly mounted, outwardly projecting pin 20, the pins carried `by Ybothof arms i 4 being `in axial alignment witheachyother. I4 are adapted to`lie `substantially flat along the sides `o root IIB, and have surcientresilienceto accommodate themselves .readily to feet of dif"- ferentthickness.

A vdorsal strap 22 and a "heel strap 24 are yadapted to `be passedrespectively over the dorsurn and under the heelof thefoot, and to besecured .adjacent their ends to pins 20. Said straps are substantiallysimilar,` :and as shown in Figs. 6 and 7, each strap comprises-a .p airof like sections 26 and 28. -Each of said-sections is made of `a lengthof fabric or other pliable materialilded along its midline and with thehalves thereof ycemented :or otherwise joined together. Along itsfoldededgeeaoh section out ont to present a series of spaced apart loops30 adapted to b .placed in alternating relation with the loops of `theother sections, and the sections joined together by inserting a softmetal wire through -saidtloops The sections of the dorsal strap arejoined by wire 32 which extends along the upper side of the foot to apoint spaced outwardly from the toes, and the sections of the heel strapare joined by wire `34 whichV extends below the heel. Adjacent each o fends. each strap provided with `an eyelet 3 6 said eyelets being adaptedto pass -freely over pins 20.

Said eyelets are retained on pins 20 by means of a retaining arm 38pivotally secured to each of frame arms I4 vat a pointgspaced apart frompin 20 by suitablemeans such as rivet 48. T he free end portion 42 ofann 38 is offset outwardly to be normally in parallel., spacedrelationto arm i4, and is provided adjacent its end with a transversenotch 44 adapted to iit `over pin `28 adjacent the outer end thereof.Traction straps 22 and -24 `engage pin `2l) 4between arms `I4 and 38,`and are attached thereto when arm. `38 is pivoted upwardly as shown inFig.` 8. An upset b'oss 46 formed on arm .38 is adapted to vengageresiliently a recess 4.8 formed therefor in the adjacent portion of `armI4. thereby normally holding arm 38 in engagement with pin `28. Alongits upper edge, the 'oiset portion 42 of each arm 38 is provided with an`inwardly project ing' flange 50 which normally contacts ann I4 andprevents the 'entry of plaster between the two arms.

Thepartsthn the relative positions `shawn in Fig. 3. Normally both thefoot and the traction straps are coated with petroleum jelly or oil toprevent adhesion of the plaster cast. A

folded edge with a hole 58 through rwhich wire.

A plaster cast 60 may then be applied 32 passes. to the leg and foot inthe usual manner. It will be noted in Fig. 4 that the offset portions 42ofV arms 38 are sufciently long to project outside of the cast. rihuseach arm i4 andthe assofrom outside of said cast to separate said strapsections whereby said frame may be withdrawn from said cast, each ofsaid frame arms and its associated retainer arm providing a window insaid cast through which said straps are drawn.

2. A tractionhitch forapplying'traction to a fractured leg asa, castrisapplied thereto comprising a frame member having substantially parallelarms adapted to extend closely adjacent the sides of the foot andsubstantially in align- 'ment with the'leg, an outwardly projecting pin.carried rigidly .adjacent the end of each of said arms, a pair ofpliable traction straps each divided intermediate 'its ends, a memberreleasably conciated arm 38 forms a window 62 into the cast.

While the cast is still moist, the plaster may be trimmed about the toesand the toe guard 56 removed, and the vplaster cut away to providetapering entries to windows 62. When the cast has set suicientlytopermit the traction to'be removed, the traction is rst reduced byslackeningicord 52, and wires 32 and 34 are then drawn longitudinallyoutwardly through the mold. Said wires are sufliciently pliable thatthis may be done easily.V Frame l0 may then be drawn out of the cast andthe straps 22 and 24 will be drawn through windows 62, each arm I4 ofthe frame carrying one section of the dorsal strap 22V and one-sectionof the heel strap 24. Each window 62 is of ample area to permit thepassage of the straps. It will be noted that since each strap section isseamless and of uniform thickness, it may be drawn easily fromth-e cast.Scams would cause localized bulk in the straps which mightpresentobstructions to easy passage through the cast. v v

Thus it will be seen that no part -of the hitcha remains inside of thecast to cause possible pressure on the foot or leg. If desired, windowsB2 may be'lled-with additional plaster aftery the hitch has beenremoved. The hitch may bereassembled for further use by inserting wires32 and 34V through loops 26 of the straps. And although the hitch hasbeen shown for use in connection with treatment of fractures of the leg,it is readily apparent that it couldibeadapted for use invarious otherorthopedic operations'without departing from the spirit ofthe-invention.`

1. A traction hitch'forl applying traction to a fractured leg as a castis applied thereto comprising a frame memberhaving' substantiallyparallel-arms adapted to 'extend closely adjacent the sides of the footand-substantially in alignment with the leg, a strap retaining armsecured to each-of said frame arms and having a portion disposed inparallel,` spaced relation `from the end portion of said frame arm, apairof pliable traction straps each comprising-apair of separablesections adapted toV pass respectively over the dorsum and behind theheel and secured at their ends between said frame arms and theassociatedl retainer arms, members releasably connecting the sections ofsaid straps, whereby traction may be applied to said leg through saidframe and whereby a plaster cast may be formed about said foot and legover said straps and with ,7

said frame arms extending outwardly from said cast, said' connectingmembers being operable necting the'sections of each of said straps,saidl straps 'being' adapted to pass respectively over the dorsumlandbehind the heel and having eyelets adjacent their ends adapted to bepassed over said pins, a strap retainer arm carried pivotally by each ofsaid frame arms and having a portion normally disposed in spacedrelation from-said frame arm and engaging said pin adjacent its outerend to retain said straps thereon, whereby las a plaster cast is formedabout saidV leg and foot said frame arms and retainer arms will projectoutwardly from said cast, said connecting members being removable fromoutside said cast for dividing said straps, whereby said frame and saidstraps may be drawn from said cast.

3. In a traction hitch of the class described for applying traction to afractured body member as a plaster cast is formed thereabout andVincluding a frame member adapted to extend into said cast, a pliabletraction strapl adapted to pass yabout said body member and joinedadjacent its ends to said frame, said strap being divided transverselyintermediate its ends into two sections, the adjacent edges of saidsections being formed to present loops, and a wire passing through saidloops to connect said strap sections, said wire being adapted to extendoutwardly through said cast. f

4. The combination, with a traction' hitch of the class described forapplying traction to a fractured leg as a cast is formed thereabout andincluding a frame having a pair of substantially parallel arms adaptedto extend into said cast v substantially in alignment with the leg andanoutwardly extending pin carried rigidly adjacent the inner end of eachof said arms, of a pair of traction straps adapted to pass-respectivelyover the dorsum and behind the heel of the foot, each of said strapscomprising two sections, each of said sections comprising a length ofpliable material doubled on itself, said sectionsY havingrtheir doublededges adjacent and forming loops, a wire passing through said loopstojoin said sections and passing outwardly through said cast, andeyelets inserted adjacent the vends of said straps and adapted to becarried pivotally on said pins. JOI-IN R. SIEBRANDT.

Number Name Y Date 1,971,183 Hawley 4 Aug. 2l, 1934 2,103,942 Gillin vDec. 28, 1937 2,469,361

Anderson May l0,V 1949

